In Iowa, children under 14 may soon be able to handle "a pistol, revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision.
(Photo: yakiim sem/flickr/cc)
Feb 25, 2016
A bill allowing children of all ages to handle real guns passed the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday and is on the way to the state Senate, where lawmakers will consider making it legal for minors under 14 to have "a pistol, revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision.
The bill passed 62-36 in the state House. Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a Democrat who voted against the bill, told local media that the bill "allows for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, four-year-olds to operate handguns."
"We do not need a militia of toddlers," Running-Marquardt said.
Currently, children in Iowa can use shotguns and long guns while under adult supervision, but not handguns. The bill would allow them to do so if the parents are at least 21 years old and maintain "visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person."
Rev. Cheryl Thomas, policy director at Iowans for Gun Safety, said the bill was designed to weaken the state's gun laws. The advocacy group petitioned the House on Monday, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
Last week, the gun control advocacy group Violence Policy Center released a report that found the firearms industry is advertising to children as young as grade school age "for financial and political gain."
"As household gun ownership has steadily declined and the primary gun market of white males continues to age, the firearms industry has set its sights on America's children," the report states. "Much like the tobacco industry's search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement shooters."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
A bill allowing children of all ages to handle real guns passed the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday and is on the way to the state Senate, where lawmakers will consider making it legal for minors under 14 to have "a pistol, revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision.
The bill passed 62-36 in the state House. Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a Democrat who voted against the bill, told local media that the bill "allows for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, four-year-olds to operate handguns."
"We do not need a militia of toddlers," Running-Marquardt said.
Currently, children in Iowa can use shotguns and long guns while under adult supervision, but not handguns. The bill would allow them to do so if the parents are at least 21 years old and maintain "visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person."
Rev. Cheryl Thomas, policy director at Iowans for Gun Safety, said the bill was designed to weaken the state's gun laws. The advocacy group petitioned the House on Monday, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
Last week, the gun control advocacy group Violence Policy Center released a report that found the firearms industry is advertising to children as young as grade school age "for financial and political gain."
"As household gun ownership has steadily declined and the primary gun market of white males continues to age, the firearms industry has set its sights on America's children," the report states. "Much like the tobacco industry's search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement shooters."
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
A bill allowing children of all ages to handle real guns passed the Iowa House of Representatives on Tuesday and is on the way to the state Senate, where lawmakers will consider making it legal for minors under 14 to have "a pistol, revolver or the ammunition" under parental supervision.
The bill passed 62-36 in the state House. Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, a Democrat who voted against the bill, told local media that the bill "allows for one-year-olds, two-year-olds, three-year-olds, four-year-olds to operate handguns."
"We do not need a militia of toddlers," Running-Marquardt said.
Currently, children in Iowa can use shotguns and long guns while under adult supervision, but not handguns. The bill would allow them to do so if the parents are at least 21 years old and maintain "visual and verbal contact at all times with the supervised person."
Rev. Cheryl Thomas, policy director at Iowans for Gun Safety, said the bill was designed to weaken the state's gun laws. The advocacy group petitioned the House on Monday, urging lawmakers to reject the bill.
Last week, the gun control advocacy group Violence Policy Center released a report that found the firearms industry is advertising to children as young as grade school age "for financial and political gain."
"As household gun ownership has steadily declined and the primary gun market of white males continues to age, the firearms industry has set its sights on America's children," the report states. "Much like the tobacco industry's search for replacement smokers, the gun industry is seeking replacement shooters."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.